Men at work (and play)

This is an interesting picture. Doug and I are wearing short sleeves and it’s the middle of summer, but doesn’t it look like winter outside? Even the trees look like they are flocked with snow.

The pic was taken by my friends when Doug and I filled in at Lilianas Restaurant recently. Our home base is definitely Delaney’s but we play other venues, too: weddings, private parties, retail shops, retirement homes, and anywhere people are interested in live jazz. When a larger sound is needed my quartet performs.  For example, this month Doug and I played twice at Delaney’s, and my quartet played two weddings and a private function.

Add in the jam sessions I host for Madison Jazz Jam, and the redecorating we’re doing in our house, and July was a busy month. We are painting and putting in new carpeting in two rooms. Quite a project. Right now our living room is filled with all the junk from those rooms. In the end it will be worth it though, because one of the rooms will be my new music room. When you practice 3 hours a day and spend many additional hours either writing music or listening to music it’s important to have a decent space.

I know, that sounds like a lot of time on music! That’s how it is, though, ask any professional musician. Most people don’t realize the time and commitment needed to play music at a high level. It never ends either. There’s always more to work on, and that is part of the attraction – music never gets old or boring.